Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

ADVERTISING

LuxoGear Emergency Whistles with Lanyard

Shop now »

NOCO Genius GEN5X2, 2-Bank, 10A (5A/Bank) Smart Marine Battery Charger

Shop now »

RHINO USA Boat Trailer Transom Straps (2PK)

Shop now »

LUCKY Kayak Portable Fish Depth Finder

Shop now »

Seaview 180 V3 Full Face Snorkel Mask

Shop now »

Most popular comments
for Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

Live comments
Comments on YouTube

CanadianErin - 6 years ago

I stumbled onto this video, but if you don't know what it was yet, there were some suggested videos on the sidebar, this one I'm linking to might help a bit? Hope so! And I hope your coral recovered (that worm was probably huge because it ate so much! Ack!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H8Q1BUagHM

ReefSpy - 6 years ago

I dunno. The thing is gone now, and I haven't seen anything like it since!

Kenneth Reyes - 6 years ago

Get the colorful variety flatworm

Golden Deerling The Epic's 2nd Channel - 6 years ago

Some larger (wild) Polycladida are rather beautiful. But these guys? Slimy messes

Robert Kolsin - 6 years ago

Why did you stick it in a tank with Frags he's just going to have to self to another Coral and you're going to have the same issue that you had with your other one and you main tank.

ReefSpy - 6 years ago

Robert Kolsin its dead. The dip killed it

Dani Wornath - 7 years ago

why dont just peel it of by hand or with a squezer ? all this bs for 1 worm ? ...

EN Reefs - 7 years ago

flat worm exit that.

EN Reefs - 7 years ago

It is the space alien from the movie "Life 2017"

EN Reefs - 7 years ago

Holy shit. That is a huge one.

carrie bolton - 7 years ago

Every scientist ever, " 3:05-3:19"

10. comment for Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

CUBAN REEFER - 7 years ago

I heard that peroxide 35% is great to kill any pests on the Reef tanks did you know anything about it

ReefSpy - 7 years ago

CUBAN REEFER sorry, I've never tried that so I don't know.

ReefSpy - 7 years ago

Bubba Shinobi lol. Thankfully it was the only one!

Chef Adam - 7 years ago

Did you name it?

Brad Grey - 7 years ago

I had a few on my nano ended up killing most of my corals and it destroyed my torches I had eggs to. Tried dipping with detol coral rx and treated with flatworm exit. But nothing worked ended up tearing the tank down and now starting to rebuild with dead live rock and dipping corals weekly but bought another coral today and had the small red/ brown flatworms on it ( coral rs dip got most off) but didn't kill them so quarantining it so got 2 tanks and 3 30l tubs in my living room! And thinking is there light at the end of the tunnel!

Brad Grey - 7 years ago

ReefSpy I will do thanks gonna leave it a few days to settle into the quarantine tank and dose with flatworm exit hope ur tank is running well?

ReefSpy - 7 years ago

Brad Grey wow. Sorry to hear. Luckily I think this was the only one in my tank. I lost a couple heads from this torch but the rest have bounced back. Flatworm Exit works pretty good for killing those red flatworms, you could give that a shot

Mr.SnugglyDick - 8 years ago

ever considered a high powered laser pointer to get rid of that..I've seen aipista killed in hard to reech areas using that method so it alleviates taking out the rockwork

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Mr.SnugglyDick The thought never crossed my mind. I'll keep it in mind the next time I encounter something unusual. Thanks for watching!

J.H.G - 8 years ago

This is a species of polyclad flatworm.

AtReef - 8 years ago

Never add a rock to your thank that has not been fully cooked. This is a call for disaster

AtReef - 8 years ago

ReefSpy thank you so much, i am working on an update and it should be out soon. I was very busy with school this past month.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+AtReef Thanks man. I watched your vids plenty of times while I was planning this out and your setup really inspired me to keep it neat and tidy. How is everything going, we need updates! Lol

AtReef - 8 years ago

ReefSpy great video bro i love your sump setup for the 180

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+AtReef for sure. I normally use dry rock now. I think this must have slipped in on a frag and survived the dip. Either way its gone now and the torch seems much happier. I haven't seen anything else like it in the tank, but I keep looking.

Jason Pointer - 8 years ago

I ran into these a few years ago. Discovered them after trying to figure out what was decimating my snail and clam populations in the tank for months. Got video of one of them and found it hiding in an overflow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1onLu-GO-OM

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Yep, that looks like the same thing! Thanks for sharing.

Molly Allen - 8 years ago

Pretty cool! Sorry the little fella had to die - I love teaching about flatworms in my science classes. However, have no idea what this one is! However, hope your torch has recuperated! :D

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Molly Allen You are probably the first person that was excited to see the flatworm. lol. thanks for watching, the torch coral seems to be doing better now. The smaller heads died off but the large ones have recovered fully. I think this worm may have been feeding on the coral.

Dinesh Kumar - 8 years ago

Please move it to a quarantine location, since it can lay eggs and spawn more of them.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Dinesh Kumar its dead. It died soon after I posted this video.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Dinesh Kumar its dead. It died soon after I posted this video.

20. comment for Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

Chris Locke - 8 years ago

tweezers?

EODJMC - 8 years ago

Not sharpshooting just asking a question. Why didn't you use tweezers or pliers to remove it instead of struggling with the baster?

EODJMC - 8 years ago

I normally do too but I also have a set of tweezers that are "tank use only" LOL

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

I dunno, I usually just blast it and things drop right off. this one didn't want to let go.

maximinoa - 8 years ago

How is the torch doing?

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

maximinoa about the same. Heads on top are nice and healthy, the one on bottom will probably die off, it doesn't have much skin on the outer skeleton, and that usually means its on the way out.

GrimTheReaperz - 8 years ago

Definitely a polycladida species...I found one in my tank after some LR addition.
It consumed 3 of my snails before i caught it.
If you don't have Inverts you are worried about you could probably keep it.
mine looked like this.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=polycladida+brown&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=950&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjnqf6B7MHQAhVBzmMKHQB7BY4Q_AUIBigB#imgrc=7_eSaNgvXtz6bM%3A

They come in all kinds of different colours. And from my research mainly invert diet but thats not written in stone or anything.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Thanks for the info. It is amazing how many strange things appear in our tanks even when we think we've done a good job keeping them out. This one died soon after I posted the video. I guess it had a bad reaction to the coral dip.

Tristan G - 8 years ago

i found the exact same flatworm on my toch the other day, I dip my corals too and have no idea were it came from, I found about 5 little ones like him crawling through my torch. got them off with tweasers

Zeraphs - 8 years ago

euphyllia-eating flatworm. Kill it.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Zeraphs yep. I did.

DJ Moulton - 8 years ago

It could easily have come in as an egg of the frag. Dips don't work on eggs. That is why it is so important to quarantine all rock and corals for at least 6-8 weeks before adding to your display tank, just as you would with fish.

Stef Styl - 8 years ago

set up a little nano for it its a pretty rare little one

Reefing with Reefer - 8 years ago

Great vid. I think I may have some on mine

Reefing with Reefer - 8 years ago

ReefSpy thanks I'll have to do the same if it is in fact same thing. Very glad u shared your experience with us

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

For what it's worth, it seemed to die shortly after I posted this vid. I dipped it in Polyp Lab Reef Primer so I guess it did the trick.

Dee From Brooklyn - 8 years ago

i would have definitely wore gloves. You may have hundreds of eggs in your tank. ..

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

haha, I hear ya man. It's a habit I need to get into.

Dee From Brooklyn - 8 years ago

ReefSpy i have to remember to wear gloves, things that go bump in the rocks. . lol

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Dee From Brooklyn Yikes! I hope not. From what I could gather these big worms are kind of rare to find in your tank, so hopefully don't breed easily.

30. comment for Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

Tristan Beligan - 8 years ago

Btw. I think you ripped the flesh of the torch head when you pulled it out of the tank

ModernReptiles - 8 years ago

Had the same Typ of flatworms before. Had them come in on Marine Cultured and Wild colonies. They will kill your Euphyllias. Make sure to check all of your Euphyllias and check for Eggpatches

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

ModernReptiles Thanks for the info. This one is dead now, I checked and didn't find any more but I'll keep an eye out.

Reefer Nanoman - 8 years ago

Yuck! Yeah dips are not 100% effective, specially against eggs. Thanks for the video. Check out my nano reefs in my channel. Subscribed.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Thanks man, will do!

Cichlid City - 8 years ago

Awesome video!

eric olsen - 8 years ago

maybe a "phrikoceros" flat worm from the Philippines. Hundreds of diff. flat worms just a guess. I would kill it.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+eric olsen Thanks, It's dead now.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

I still had snails, I really don't know if I had lost any since its hard to keep track of them. I'll keep an open for any more of these things. Thanks for watching!

Kevin ENH Vlogs - 8 years ago

Thats interesting ... you seem to find some of the "coolest" things in the reef.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Kevin Vlog It's amazing how there is always something new going on. The reef is an amazing place.

Cycnoches2012 - 8 years ago

Danger Will Robinson!!

Reefing with Reefer - 8 years ago

Cycnoches2012 lmao

b nelson - 8 years ago

I had one of these before in a system I started from dry rock and the only corals that went in there before finding it came straight out of the bags from ORA. I did not notice it for about 6 months. Mine was blue and looked like a clams mantle. I left him alone. Never bothered anything. Spent most of its time under rockwork.

SweatyReef - 8 years ago

That is awesome, and huge. The last two weekends I have picked up new coral and got flat worms off in the dip. must be flat worm season. :)

Feroz Reef - 8 years ago

never saw it before but I'm glad you toke it out

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Feroz Reef yeah, it's dead now. looks like the Revive dip did a number on it.

Bay Area Reefs - 8 years ago

Wow spy I never seen this I'm going to go try and find out

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Bay Area Reefs Thanks man, yeah some sort of giant flatworm. Whatever it was, it's dead now. It died soon after taking it out of the dip.

Bay Area Reefs - 8 years ago

Here it is spy http://m.liveaquaria.com/PIC/article.cfm?aid=122

Simon Thornton - 8 years ago

This is the rare wormignitis flatiitis. It's on the endangered species list... I hope you didn't kill it.

JustinToSerious Ω - 7 years ago

Simon Thornton are these the ones that eat crabs seen it in a video once

Fish Freak - 7 years ago

Simon Thornton I hope he did

Jack is not in the box - 7 years ago

Simon Thornton. It may be endangered, but no one wants to buy it LOL. just like measles

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Simon Thornton I'll sell it to you!

Michael Pattan - 8 years ago

dispose of it not good!!!!!!

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Michael Pattan yeah, its gone now. it died shortly after posting the video. I guess that dip works.

The Midwest Fishkeeper - 8 years ago

Maybe you discovered a new species of flatworm!

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Hooked On Fish lol, maybe

CJ'S AQUARIUMS - 8 years ago

Did u use any live rock in your system? How do you think it got introduced? Pretty nasty indeed

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+CJ'S AQUARIUMS Last live rock I got was a couple tonga branches about 6 months ago. No idea how long it was hiding out in my tank, first time I saw it! Looks like the revive dip must have did it in, it died soon after i posted the video. At least I know it works for giant flatworms now. lol

NW Marine62 - 8 years ago

that's a big boy. Good thing you got it out of there. now you can burn it. lol.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+NW Marine62 haha, for sure

Mo Osman - 8 years ago

I had one in my reef tank. Never seen it for over a year until I found it in my glass one morning at 5 am.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Mo Osman yeah, it's amazing to find new creatures like this. makes me wonder what else is hiding out in here.

Micah Whalen - 8 years ago

That thing was huge! Cant be good. Youre brave for putting it back in the tank. Anxious to see how it does. Crazy the mysteries in our tank.

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Micah Whalen yeah. i wanted to study it more, but it died shortly after posting the video. i guess the dip killed it.

Fish School - 8 years ago

That poor torch:(

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+Fish School yeah, should be nice and clean now

50. comment for Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

PsychedelicBabe it's amazing the sorts of things that turn up in a reef tank.

Young Tank - 8 years ago

What is it ? I'm glad you got it

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

young tank No idea, always find all kinds of crazy things in a reef tank. lol

Scott From Rosco's Reef - 8 years ago

That was nasty looking...

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Scott M That's what I'm guessing but hard to be 100% sure.

Scott From Rosco's Reef - 8 years ago

Could it be a Polyclad Flatworm

Murphy's Reefing - 8 years ago

Comoplana flatworm?

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Murphy's Reefing your guess is as good as mine. lol

JJ reef - 8 years ago

them never seen that before , but whatever it is I don't think it's any good for reef tank

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

+JJ reef me neither, no idea

Nano_Joe - 8 years ago

Nasty looking.... hope you don't have anymore.

insect illuminati Get shrekt - 7 years ago

Hey flatworms are cool

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Nano_Joe Still amazes me at the types of things that just show up seemingly out of nowhere.

PRFishGirl - 8 years ago

That thing is huge! Looked like it left a mark on the spot it was covering..hope u don't have anymore in your system... def think it's polyclad flatworm

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

PRFishGirl I took a closer look and it looks like it did clean the skeleton where is was attached of any algae. I wonder if this one is a harmless algae grazer?

Billy Pipes - 8 years ago

kill that s.o.b

ReefSpy - 8 years ago

Reefing with Billy Pipes Before I burn it with fire I'm gonna study it a little more first lol.

About Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)

The "Giant Flatworm Hitchhiker in My Reef Tank (Polyclad Flatworm?)" video is part of the reef tank, salt water category, which contains similar videos like this one.